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Google to Sell Zagat to The Infatuation, an Upstart Review Site
When Google agreed to buy Zagat for $151 million nearly seven years ago, the technology giant intended to bring the restaurant review empire into the digital age.
Now ownership of Zagat will change again — into the hands of an upstart restaurant review company that has harnessed smartphone apps, an Instagram hashtag and a texting recommendation service as parts of its path to growth.
That company, The Infatuation, announced on Monday that it would buy Zagat from Google. It did not disclose the amount.
"How often does an iconic brand like Zagat become available?" Chris Stang, a co-founder of The Infatuation and its chief executive, said in a telephone interview. "When you think about its history and what Zagat means to so many people, it's a huge opportunity."
Also at TechCrunch.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday March 06 2018, @08:50PM (10 children)
Data acquired. Termination initiated.
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(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Tuesday March 06 2018, @09:37PM (4 children)
The part I don't understand, what value did Zagat have other than a name? Was it really worth acquiring them for the raw text of reviews in the age of yelp?
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday March 06 2018, @10:32PM
Its only because Google ignored Zagat that Yelp stole a march on them. So I suspect the buyer got a good deal.
Now if Google would just step into the telephone number documentation market and put all those crap reverse-phone number look up scams out of business that would be great.
Nothing I hate more than trying to find out who called me, only to find the ALLEGED answer hidden behind some revenue seeking paywall. Google had a start at this many years ago but abandoned it because unlisted number we getting captured/reported.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday March 07 2018, @12:04AM (2 children)
> in the age of yelp?
Go ahead and tell me which Yelp reviews are the family, cousins, friends, competitors, building owners, delivery guy...
Frojack/Colo below also have examples of inherent bias of the reviews. And that's assuming that Yelp really did stop racketing people for optimized reviews.
I'll take the printed guide over Yelp any day. It might not be fully neutral, but it ain't the cesspool that Yelp is.
(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Wednesday March 07 2018, @12:47AM (1 child)
When did you buy your last Zagat guide? Shit quality or no, I know that I personally just try to filter the readily available sources.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday March 07 2018, @01:49AM
This is key. Sure, IMDB, Amazon, Yelp, etc. may have a lot of bad, paid, and fake reviews. But once you develop bad review literacy, you can cut through the bullshit, look for consistent patterns, and get to the key details.
Luckily, eating at a poor quality restaurant is not (usually) a matter of life and death.
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(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday March 06 2018, @11:42PM (4 children)
"Mists of dreams drip along the nascent echo and love no more. End of line."
What I'm wondering is...wtf is Zagat again? Never fecking heard of it: really, is it worth $150million?
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday March 06 2018, @11:47PM (2 children)
When you go to your next few non-chain restaurants, look for a Zagat sticker or plaque near the door.
I've seen them, but I can see how its influence has waned as Yelp and others have taken over. Even the user reviews included with Google Maps are probably more relevant to people.
Next to die: the Michelin Guide [wikipedia.org].
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(Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Wednesday March 07 2018, @12:52AM
bribesroyalty payments.(Score: 2) by quietus on Thursday March 08 2018, @01:25PM
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday March 07 2018, @06:43AM
Trip Advisor, yep, can't avoid it. Yelp, yep, heard of it, but never seems relevant. Zagat? Never fucking heard of it.
I guess this is another of "all over the USA, therefore the whole world" views. Heard at a local restaurant a while back:
Customer: Do you take dollars?
Staff: No, only euros.
Customer: But dollars are accepted everywhere!?!
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